Dongxuan Lingbao Yujingshan Buxu Jing (The Scripture of Pacing the Void at Jade Capital Mountain of the Numinous Treasure of the Cave Mysterious), also known as Shengxuan Buxu Zhang (The Chapters of Ascending the Mysterious and Pacing the Void).
One of the ancient Taoist Lingbao Scriptures, it was compiled approximately between the late Eastern Jin Dynasty (317–420 CE) and the early Southern Dynasties (420–589 CE).
It is recorded in both Lu Xiujing’s Lingbao Jingmu (Catalogue of Lingbao Scriptures) and Lingbao Zhongmeng Jingmu (Catalogue of the Middle Covenant of Lingbao).
Consisting of one scroll, it is included in the Xu Daozang (Supplementary Taoist Canon).
Falsely attributed to the Taiji Zhenren (Taiji True Person) transmitting it to Ge Xuan, the Taiji Zuoxian Gong (Left Immortal Lord of Taiji), the scripture elaborates on the practice of "Lingbao Dongxuan Zhai Song Kongdong Buxu Zhang" (the Numinous Treasure Cave Mysterious Fasting and Recitation of the Void Pacing the Void Chapters).
The text contains several chapters of five-character eulogistic lyrics, namely:
- Dongxuan Buxu Yin (Odes of Pacing the Void of the Cave Mysterious) – 10 poems;
- Taishang Zhihui Jing Zan (Eulogies on the Supreme Wisdom Scripture) – 8 poems;
- Youying Furen Song (Eulogies by Lady Youying) – 3 poems;
- Taiji Wuzhenren Song (Eulogies by the Five Taiji True Persons) – 5 poems;
- Li Jing Zhou (Ritual Scripture Mantras) – 3 mantras.
It is claimed that these lyrics are all "Kongdong Lingzhang" (Void Spiritual Chapters) from heaven, recited by high immortals and supreme sages as they pay homage to Xuandu Yujingshan (Jade Capital Mountain of the Mysterious Capital) – the residence of the Wuji Xu Huang Tianzun (Limitless Void Sovereign Heavenly Lord) located in the Daluo Tian (Great Luo Heaven) – while pacing the void in flight. Hence, they are called "Buxu Zhang" (Chapters of Pacing the Void).
Practitioners who emulate the immortals and sages – observing prolonged fasting, engaging in constant contemplation, chanting the cave scriptures, performing ritual prostrations and eulogies, tapping their teeth, and swallowing saliva – can dispel disasters, avoid kalpas (cosmic calamities), pace the void in flight, and "enter the ranks of immortals."
This text exerted a profound influence on Taoism during the Six Dynasties (220–589 CE), Tang Dynasty (618–907 CE), and Song Dynasty (960–1279 CE). Many Taoist works, such as Wushang Miyao (The Supreme Secret Essentials), Yunji Qiqian (Seven Lots of the Cloud Satchel), and Yuyin Fashi (The Ritual of Jade Sounds), excerpted or cited it extensively.
✨ Recommended Taoist Talismans
Discover powerful talismans for your spiritual journey
